Operation safety assembly for a lawncare apparatus

ABSTRACT

A lawncare apparatus includes a main body, multiple wheels supporting the main body, a cutting blade disposed in the main body, a motor driving the cutting blade, and an operating arm connected to the first end of the main body. The distance in the horizontal direction between the axial central line of the cylindrical gripping portion of the operating arm and the axes of the elongated handle of the main body along the length direction is less than 5 cm. Because of the structure mate relationship between the operating arm and the cylindrical gripping portion, the operator feels more comfortable during the transporting process, the volume of lawncare apparatus during transporting is reduced and the convenience of transporting is improved.

RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION

This application claims the benefit of and is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/722,589, filed Dec. 20, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/238,276, filed Aug. 16, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,524,420, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/048,158, filed Oct. 8, 2013, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,888,627, which application claims the benefit of CN 201210387914.9, filed on Oct. 15, 2012, and CN 201220602040.X, filed on May 3, 2013, the disclosures of which are each incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The subject disclosure relates to garden tools and, more particularly, to a lawncare apparatus.

BACKGROUND

A commonly used lawncare apparatus, such as a walk-behind lawnmower, includes a cutting device, a deck supporting the cutting device, a chassis having four wheels to which the deck is mounted, and a handle for pushing a main body of the lawncare apparatus disposed at one end of the chassis.

When using the lawnmower, there are two ways to transport the lawnmower from a storage room to a lawn. The first way is to place the four wheels on the ground and push/pull the lawnmower. The second way is to lift the lawnmower away from the ground. The first way requires a large storage room and the second way requires that the lawnmower is of light weight. That is, the way to transport the lawnmower from the storage room to the lawn needs to be improved.

SUMMARY

The following will describe an apparatus which can improve operating comfort of the operator, reduce volume of the apparatus during transporting and/or storage, and further improve convenience of transporting.

To achieve the above object, a described apparatus includes a main body, a plurality of wheels supporting the main body, an accessory disposed in the main body, a motor driving the cutting blade, and an operating arm connected to the first end of the main body, wherein an elongated handle is disposed on the second end of the main body which is away from the operating arm. The operating arm includes a cylindrical gripping portion and the operating arm can be folded to a folded position. When the operating arm is at the folded position and the multiple wheels contacts the level surface, the distance in the horizontal direction between the axial central line of the cylindrical gripping portion and the axes of the elongated handle along the length direction is less than 5 cm.

To achieve the above object, another described apparatus includes a main body, a plurality of wheels supporting the main body, an accessory disposed in the main body, a motor driving the cutting blade, an operating arm connected to a first end of the main body, and an elongated handle positioned on a second end of the main body which is away from the operating arm. The operating arm is capable of being folded to a folded position and the internal profile of the operating arm is mated with the external profile of the elongated handle such that the operating arm at the folded position is clearance fitted with the elongated handle.

The apparatus of the invention can be pulled obliquely. Further, because of the structure mate relationship between the operating arm and the cylindrical gripping portion, the operator will feel more comfortable during the transporting process and the volume of the apparatus during transporting is reduced, and further, the convenience of transporting is improved.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic, isometric view showing an exemplary lawncare apparatus constructed according to the description which follows wherein an operating arm is folded.

FIG. 2 is a side schematic view showing the exemplary lawncare apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an exemplary safety switch assembly of the lawncare apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side schematic view showing the lawncare apparatus of FIG. 1 in a storage position.

FIG. 5 is a side schematic view showing the lawncare apparatus of FIG. 1 in an obliquely disposed, pulling position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will be described below in details with reference to the drawings and preferred embodiments thereof.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the lawncare apparatus is a hand push lawnmower. The lawncare apparatus includes a main body 1, a first pair of wheels 11 and a second pair of wheels 12 supporting the main body 1, a cutting blade disposed in the main body 1, a motor driving the cutting blade, and an operating arm 2 connected to the first end (rear end) of the main body 1. The first pair of wheels 11 and the second pair of wheels 12 are disposed respectively at the second end (front end) and the first end (rear end) of the main body 1. The operating arm 2 is pivotally connected to the rear end of the main body 1 by a pivot shaft 22 and positioned above the second pair of wheels 12. The front end of the main body 1, which is away from the operating arm 2, includes an elongated handle 13. In the illustrated embodiment the elongated handle 13 is substantially cylinder-shaped and includes an axis Z2 along the longitude direction. The operating arm 2 includes a cylindrical gripping portion 23 and can be folded to a folded position, and the cylindrical gripping portion 23 includes an axial central line Z1.

When the operating arm is at the folded position and the first pair of wheels 11 and the second pair of wheels 12 both contact the horizontal surface F, if the gripping portion 23 is above the handle 13, the distance d1 in the vertical direction between the axial central line Z1 and the axis Z2 along the longitude direction is greater than the sum of the radius of the gripping portion 23 and the radius of the cylinder-shaped handle 13, and the distance d1 is less than 5 cm. For example, the diameters of the gripping portion 23 and the cylinder-shaped handle 13 are both 1.5 cm, then the distance d1 is at least greater than 1.5 cm. Preferably, the distance d1 is 3 cm, and a distance d2 in the horizontal direction between the axial central line Z1 and the axis Z2 is also less than 5 cm, and in the illustrated embodiment, the distance d2 is preferably 0.5 cm. Therefore, when the operating arm 2 is at the folded position, the user can grip both the gripping portion 23 and the cylinder-shaped handle 13 conveniently.

Additionally, in an alternative embodiment, to allow the user to grip both the gripping portion 23 and the cylinder-shaped handle 13 more conveniently, the internal profile of the gripping portion 23 is mated with the external profile of the cylinder-shaped handle 13, such that when the operation arm 2 is at the folded position, the outer surface of the gripping portion 23 and the cylinder-shaped handle 13 contact with each other. At this time, the gripping portion 23 and the cylinder-shaped handle 13 can lie in a horizontal plane, the distance d2 in the horizontal direction between the axial central line Z1 and the axis Z2 is larger than the sum of the radius of the gripping portion 23 and the radius of the cylinder-shaped handle 13, and the distance d1 is zero. It should be noted that the external profile of the gripping portion 23 may be designed to mate with the internal profile of the cylinder-shaped handle 13.

To allow the user to grip both the gripping portion 23 and the cylinder-shaped handle 13 more stably, a clip K is disposed on the handle 13. When the operation arm is at the folded position, the clip K is engaged with the cylindrical gripping portion 23.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the operating arm 2 is extendable, and a safety switch assembly 240 is disposed in the operating arm 2, the operating arm 2 includes an inner pipe 25 and an outer pipe 21, the outer pipe 21 is rotatably connected to the rear end of the main body 1 by the pivot shaft 22, and the end of the outer pipe 21 includes a pipe sleeve 24.

Referring to FIG. 3, the safety switch assembly 240 is disposed in the sleeve pipe 24 and a safety shift structure 25 a is disposed in the inner pipe 25. The safety switch assembly 240 includes a safety switch 241 and a trigger assembly 242 configured to trigger the safety switch 241 when the safety shift structure 25 a of the inner pipe 25 is disengaged from a safety location and reset the safety switch 241 when the safety shift structure 25 a returns to the safety location. The safety switch 241 is electrically connected to a control circuit (hidden from view) for controlling the motor in the main body 1.

In the embodiment, the trigger assembly 242 is a contacting spring sheet. One end of the contacting spring sheet is connected to the safety switch 241 and the other end is a free end. When the inner pipe 25 slides, the wall of the inner pipe 25 presses the contacting spring sheet to trigger the safety switch 241. The contacting spring sheet 242 is formed with elasticity. When the inner pipe 25 slides, the safety shift structure 25 a moves back to the safe position and, at this time, the safety shift structure 25 a is within a receiving groove configured to accommodate the contacting spring sheet, and the contacting spring sheet 242 is out of outer force and will not trigger the safety switch 241.

When the inner pipe 25 is retracted into the outer pipe 21, the safety shift structure 25 a leaves the safe position and the wall of the inner pipe 25 presses the contacting spring sheet 242 to trigger the safety switch. At this time, even during the transporting process, if the user operates an operating switch 37 by mistake, the motor cannot be started, which can reduce the possibility of danger happening to the user.

Additionally, referring to FIG. 2 again, when the lawnmower is at the using position, the first pair wheels 11 and the second pair wheels 12 are supported on the supporting surface F. If light is shining from a direction perpendicular to the supporting surface F, the main body 1 of the lawnmower projects a first orthographic projection on the supporting surface F. Referring to FIG. 4, the lawnmower is at the storage position. When the lawnmower is stored, the lawnmower stands uprightly for storing in a storage room and the operating arm 2 is folded and only the second wheels 2 are supported on the supporting surface F. For improving stability, a supporting portion 26 is disposed on the main body 1 for supporting on the supporting surface F, and the supporting portion can be integrated with or separated from the main body 1. In the same way, at this time if light is shining from a direction perpendicular to the supporting surface F, the main body 1 of the lawnmower projects a second orthographic projection on the supporting surface F. Since the width of the lawnmower at the using position is the same as that of the lawnmower at the storage position, and the distance D1 between the first pair wheels 11 and the second pair wheels 12 is larger than the distance D2 between the first pair of wheels 11 and the supporting portion 26, the first orthographic projection area of the lawnmower at the using position is larger than the second orthographic projection area of the lawnmower at the storage position.

Referring to FIG. 5, when the lawnmower is changed from the using position to the obliquely pulled position, only the second pair wheels 12 contact the supporting surface and the hands of the user grip a pull portion which is preferably the cylindrical gripping portion 23. At this time, the operating arm 2 is at the folded position, the distance of the gripping portion 23 relative to the supporting surface F is H; the distance of the gripping portion 23 relative to the point the second pairs wheels 12 contacting the supporting surface F is L, and the ratio of H to L may be 0.5˜1, preferably 0.8˜0.9, for meeting the needs of ergonomics. Therefore, when pulling the lawnmower, only part of the weight of the lawnmower is supported by the user, which makes the user feel more labor-saving.

From the above, the described lawncare apparatus can be pulled obliquely, and because of the structure mate relationship between the operating arm and the cylindrical gripping portion, the user can feel more comfortable during transporting and the pulling process is more stable, so that the volume of the lawncare apparatus during transporting is reduced and the operability of lawnmower pulling is improved. Since a safety switch mechanism is disposed on the operating arm, misoperation of the lawncare apparatus can be avoided and safety of pulling is improved.

The general principle, primary features and advantages of the invention have been illustrated and described above. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the foregoing embodiments are not intended to limit the invention in any form and technical implementations derived with equal substitutions or equivalent variations shall be considered as falling within the scope of the claimed invention. 

We claim:
 1. A lawnmower, comprising: a main body; a plurality of wheels for supporting the main body; a cutting blade disposed in the main body; an electric motor supported by the main body and drivingly coupled to the cutting blade; a control circuit electrically coupled to the electric motor and controlling the electric motor; an operating arm rotatably connected to a rear end of the main body comprising a first pipe movably coupled to a second pipe and movable to and from a safety location relative to the second pipe; and an operating switch mounted to the operating arm activable by a user to start the electric motor; and a safety switch assembly associated with the operating arm providing the control circuit with an indication of a position of the first pipe relative to the safety location, wherein the control circuit prevents a starting of the electric motor via a user activation of the operating switch when the first pipe has been displaced from the safety location and the control circuit allows the starting of the electric motor via a user activation of the operating switch when the first pipe has been returned to the safety location, wherein the control circuit enables starting of the electric motor via a user activation of the operating switch when the first pipe is moved to the safety location relative to the second pipe in a direction that is away from the main body, and wherein the control circuit disables starting of the electric motor via a user activation of the operating switch when the first pipe is moved away from the safety location relative to the second pipe in a direction that is towards the main body.
 2. The lawnmower as recited in claim 1, wherein the safety switch assembly is a contacting spring sheet, one end of the contacting spring sheet is connected to the operating switch and an other end is a free end.
 3. The lawnmower as recited in claim 2, wherein the contacting spring sheet is formed with elasticity, when the first pipe is in the safety location, the contacting spring sheet is biased outward and will not trigger the operating switch, and when the first pipe leaves the safety location the contacting spring sheet is pressed inward to trigger the operating switch.
 4. The lawnmower as recited in claim 2, wherein the operating arm further comprises a safety shift structure; and the free end of the contacting spring sheet comprises a rounded end, such that when the first pipe is in the safety location, the rounded end is received in the safety shift structure.
 5. The lawnmower as recited in claim 1, wherein the first pipe has a first surface portion and a second surface portion, wherein the second surface portion is radially closer to a longitudinal axis of the first pipe than the first surface portion, and wherein the first surface portion and the second surface portion cooperatively form a safety shift structure.
 6. The lawnmower as recited in claim 5, wherein the first pipe has an angled surface that provides a transition from the second surface portion to the first surface portion.
 7. The lawnmower as recited in claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a front end formed with an elongated handle for gripping by the user so as to pull the lawnmower obliquely.
 8. The lawnmower as recited in claim 7, wherein the operating arm comprises a cylindrical gripping portion, and when the operating arm is folded to a folded position, the cylindrical gripping portion is adjacent to the elongated handle.
 9. A lawnmower, comprising: a main body; a plurality of wheels for supporting the main body; a functional accessory disposed in the main body; a motor supported by the main body for driving the functional accessory; a control circuit for controlling the motor; an operating arm pivotally connected to a rear end of the main body and can be folded to a folded position relative to the main body, the operating arm comprising two inner pipes and two outer pipes, each inner pipe being slidably movable in one of the two outer pipes, and the two outer pipes being rotatably connected to the rear end of the main body; and a safety switch assembly disposed in the operating arm, the safety switch assembly comprising a safety switch electrically connected to the control circuit and a trigger assembly configured to trigger the safety switch when at least one of the two inner pipes is retracted into one of the two outer pipes from a safety location and to reset the safety switch when the at least one of the two inner pipes returns to the safety location, and wherein when the at least one of the two inner pipes leaves the safety location, the motor cannot be started.
 10. The lawnmower as recited in claim 9, wherein the trigger assembly is a contacting spring sheet, one end of the contacting spring sheet is connected to the safety switch and an other end is a free end.
 11. The lawnmower as recited in claim 10, wherein the contacting spring sheet is formed with elasticity, wherein, when the at least one of the two inner pipes is in the safety location, the contacting spring sheet will not trigger the safety switch, and wherein, when the at least one of the two inner pipes leaves the safety location the contacting spring sheet is moved to trigger the safety switch.
 12. The lawnmower as recited in claim 10, wherein the operating arm further comprises a safety shift structure and the free end of the contacting spring sheet comprises a rounded end, wherein when the at least one of the two inner pipes is in the safety location the rounded end is received in the safety shift structure.
 13. The lawnmower as recited in claim 9, wherein the at least one of the two inner pipes has a first surface portion and a second surface portion, wherein the second surface portion is radially closer to a longitudinal axis of the at least one of the two inner pipes than the first surface portion, and wherein the first surface portion and the second surface portion cooperatively form a safety shift structure.
 14. The lawnmower as recited in claim 13, wherein the at least one of the two inner pipes has an angled surface that provides a transition from the second surface portion to the first surface portion.
 15. The lawnmower as recited in claim 9, wherein the safety switch assembly is reset and the control circuit enables operation of the motor when the at least one of the two inner pipes is moved to the safety location relative to the outer in a direction that is away from the main body.
 16. The lawnmower as recited in claim 15, wherein the safety switch assembly causes the control circuit to disable operation of the motor when the at least one of the two inner pipes is moved away from the safety location relative to the outer pipe in a direction that is towards the main body.
 17. The lawnmower as recited in claim 9, wherein the main body comprises a front end formed with an elongated handle for gripping so as to pull the lawnmower obliquely.
 18. The lawnmower as recited in claim 17, wherein the operating arm comprises a cylindrical gripping portion, and when the operating arm is folded to the folded position, the cylindrical gripping portion is adjacent to the elongated handle.
 19. The lawnmower as recited in claim 9, wherein the two inner pipes are operably coupled such that each inner pipe is synchronously slidably movable in one of the two outer pipes. 